Another academic year is coming to an end at Queen’s Law, with the admission cycle for the next one is in full swing. Over reading week in February, recruitment and outreach staff joined alumni and students across the country to welcome students admitted to Law’21 at receptions in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa.

“The receptions allowed students the opportunity to find out what it is like to attend Queen’s,” said Aimee Burtch, the school’s Recruitment and Admissions Manager.

On March 4, the faculty invited students offered admission and their families to Welcome Day at the law building. Current Queen’s Law students from all years spent the day showing attendees around the school, taking them on tours of Kingston and answering their questions.

“For me, Welcome Day is about giving back to the QL community,” says Moosa Raza, Law’20. “As soon as I heard about volunteers being recruited for Welcome Day, I knew I had to be a part of it.”

Admitted students met current Queen’s Law students and had the chance to learn about some of the many ways the Faculty aims to develop and nurture the whole student body, from academics to social activities and volunteer organizations. Law’21 offerees learnt about services the school offers like unlimited career counselling and a free tutoring program.

Attendees heard from students about clubs, the Law Students’ Society student government, service organizations like Pro Bono Students Canada, and experiential learning opportunities like the Queen’s Law Clinics, the Queen’s Law Journal and the Canadian Labour & Employment Law Journal.

Six months before term begins, admitted students had their first mock class with Professor Erik Knutsen. The three-time winner of the Queen’s Law Teaching Award, teaches and researches in the areas of tort law, civil procedure, and insurance.

At lunch and during the tours, there was lots of time for questions.

“My favourite part of Welcome Day was sitting down with three or four potential 1L students and fielding their questions,” Raza adds. “I was so excited to be able to talk about my experiences all the while highlighting the amazing opportunities available to law students during their time here.”

Students wanted to know about the Queen’s Law community. Raza happy to tell them. “I was able to meet prospective QL students and tell them all the exciting things I have done so far in my first year here, and the things I am looking forward to during my time here, all the while promoting inclusiveness for those who also consider themselves visible minorities.”

Queen’s remains a top destination for applicants. The admissions office reviewed over 2,700 applications, up from just over 2,400 last year.

- Alex McPherson